Deaf and Aviation

Dak Davis
3-30-2017
Deaf and Aviation
Aviation has the power to bring in so many people from different walks of life.
Aviation is a hobby that I like no other. That ability to break the bonds of
Earth and experience something that not that many other people have is truly
amazing. With the amazing feat comes great responsibility. It was often said
that only the strong can become pilots. Now with the help of technology, how it
increases the pilot population, and flight instructors, flying has become more
accessible to everyone including the Deaf community.
There are more than 20 thousand small uncontrolled airports around the United
States. All of which don’t require radio contact with a ground facility. This
means that for a pilot radio communications are not required. “Airports can
potentially be used by deaf and partially deaf pilots the same way they can be
used by aircraft without radios.” (Moore) Plus with new technologies it has been
easier to see aircraft in the air. This has been accomplished by something
called ADS-B. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association said; “ADS-B Out
transmits information about altitude, airspeed, and location derived through GPS
from an equipped aircraft to ground stations and to other equipped aircraft in
the vicinity.” (Air traffic) This means that a deaf pilot would now be able to
get alerts on the GPS of other aircraft in the vicinity.
As being a member of the pilot population, we are constantly trying to increase
the population in the aviation community. One of the programs that are set forth
by some of the aviation unions is the Young Eagles program. “ Founded in 1992,
the Young Eagles program has dedicated nearly 25 years to giving youth ages 8–17
their first free ride in an airplane. ” (AOPA) Alone with programs like this one
there are also ones that are set out for the deaf community. Such as the Deaf
Pilots Association, their mission is to increase the number of Deaf pilots in
the United States.
Last but not least, one of the best ways to get help becoming a pilot is finding
the
right flight instructor. Finding the right teacher is key and in important in
understanding how to fly an aircraft. Without a good foundation to learn from
the student is left in a dangerous situation. If someone is Deaf, but would like
to learn to fly, it is imperative to find the right teacher. The DPA says that;
“Your instructor could write notes on a small clipboard and pass them to you as
you fly. You could teach your instructor a few signs, or agree on some gestures
for common flight tasks.” (DPA) Deaf people learning to fly isn’t an issue, as
long as you find the right instructor that has the right patients.
Flying in general is an amazing thing. Everyone in the community tries and gets
the outside population to explore this amazing feat that mankind has overcome.
If it wasn’t for the technology that we have now a days, it would be harder for
Deaf pilots to fly. If Deaf pilot’s didn’t have the ability to fly then aviation
wouldn't be as diverse as it is today. With new and improved technology,
increasing the pilot population, and the use of good flight instructors, flying
has become more accessible to everyone including the the Deaf community.
Work Cited
"Air Traffic Services Brief -- Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast
(ADS-B)." Air Traffic Services Brief . AOPA, 15 Aug. 2016. Web. 30 Mar. 2017.